The World Environment Day-2013 will be observed in the country on Wednesday as elsewhere across the globe with a focus on reducing food waste.The theme for this year’s World Environment Day celebrations is Think, Eat, Save.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year. This is equivalent to the same amount produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, 1 in every 7 people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 die daily from hunger.
Given this enormous imbalance in lifestyles and the resultant devastating effects on the environment, this year’s theme – Think. Eat. Save – encourages people to become more aware of the environmental impact of the food choices they make and empowers them to make informed decisions.
In Bangladesh, the World Environment Day-2013 and National Tree Plantation Campaign will be inaugurated simultaneously this year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the World Environment Day and National Tree Plantation Campaign at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital, Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said at a press briefing at his office on this occasion on Tuesday.
Sheikh Hasina will hand over ‘National Environment Award’, ‘Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation’ and Prime Minister’s National Award for Tree Plantation at the programme, Dr Hasan Mahmud said.
A total of 27 individuals will receive ‘Prime Minister’s National Award’ in 10 categories for tree plantation. Three will be awarded the National Environment Award while another three the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation and two for social afforestation this year.
The ministry sources said the government has chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day. The programmes include environment fair, tree fair, essay writing competition, debate, art competition of children.
National dailies will publish supplements while radio and television channels air special progammmes marking the day.
A colorful procession was brought out in the city on June 1 highlighting the significance of the day.
Dr Hasan Mahmud said the Ministry has so far fined about 800 institutions Tk 110 crore and realised Tk 80 crore. Besides, the government filed 842 cases for violating rules under enforcement programme of the Environment Directorate.
The ministry released Tk 1.96 crore from different institutions in fine during anti- polythene campaign during the tenure of the present government, he said.
‘We realised Tk 3.40 crore from 73 institutions for cutting hills,” the minister added.
The ministry also fined 58 institutions Tk 11.73 crore for filling up rivers and water bodies and realized Tk 7.10 crore. It also fined 198 institutions Tk 5.74 crore for polluting environment though brick kilns and released Tk 4.32 crore, he said. (Source: UNB)
